Sparta CHAPTER 124: RENTAL UNIT LICENSING § 124.16
EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS
Operative Text
If a licensed rental property is found to be “unfit for human occupancy” as defined in the International Property Maintenance Code (adopted by the city in § 150.36), the code officer may immediately suspend the license for that property and declare the property uninhabitable. (Ord. 2025-03, passed 2-10-2025; Ord. 2025-13, passed 11-10-2025) Penalty, see § 124.99
Under Sparta § 124.16, when a licensed rental property is found to meet the definition of 'unfit for human occupancy' as established in the International Property Maintenance Code (adopted by Sparta in § 150.36), a code officer has the authority to immediately suspend the property's rental license and formally declare the property uninhabitable. This provision gives enforcement officials a rapid-response tool for addressing extremely hazardous conditions without delay. The declaration and suspension take effect at the officer's discretion upon finding the qualifying conditions.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Sparta § 124.16 means that a code officer can suspend a rental license on the spot if conditions at a property rise to the level of 'unfit for human occupancy' under the International Property Maintenance Code. Operators who stay current with the IPMC standards adopted in § 150.36 and conduct regular interior and exterior inspections are generally better positioned to identify and correct hazardous conditions before they reach this threshold. Maintaining documentation of repairs, inspections, and corrective actions is a common practice among compliant property managers in jurisdictions with similar provisions.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Sparta § 124.16 establishes that tenants living in a rental property with extremely hazardous conditions may have grounds for relief if a code officer determines the unit is 'unfit for human occupancy' and suspends the property's license. Tenants who believe their unit may meet this standard can contact Sparta's code enforcement office to request an inspection, and may also wish to reach out to a local tenant-rights organization for information about available options. Any suspension or uninhabitability declaration under this provision may also be relevant to other remedies available under Sparta's rental regulations, including any penalties referenced in § 124.99.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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